COURSE DESCRIPTION
Grinders & Glue is a clinical course intended to help improve your knowledge and application of orthotic therapy. Effective procedures for ordering foot orthoses, managing the orthotic patient and trouble shooting orthotic devices is covered.

Reliable strategies for selecting device types and determining posting angles, including discussions as to how to answer patient questions and concerns is presented. Application techniques and orthotic components are shown, exposing participants to actual fabrication processes that will improve communications with the laboratory.

Following the course, you will be confident in selecting appropriate orthotic devices and establishing effective posting strategies. You will be knowledgeable in materials and components used in fabrication. You will be able to better instruct the laboratory on appropriate clinical adjustments to orthotics.

This is a practical presentation. Your expertise in prescribing orthotic therapy will definitely improve. Making decisions on the best modifications to your patients' devices will be less difficult. Beneficial results will be easier to achieve.

Grinders & Glue 2,3,4 - Curriculum and Schedule

Day 1
8:00am - 6:00pm

Day 2
8:00am - 3:00pm

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion, course attendees can expect to:

Improve integration of custom orthotic therapy into the treatment plans for patients with foot and lower quarter pathology by expanding knowledge of terminology and techniques used to communicate with a laboratory.

Perform a biomechanical examination specific to determining which foot and related lower kinetic chain dysfunctions can be managed with orthotic therapy.

Describe the materials, components and processes utilized in fabrication of foot orthoses.

Discuss modifications to thermoforming models (casts), including the interdependence of changes in contour to the molding model and resultant alterations to the orthotic module.

Differentiate between which orthotic components are best for controlling specific abnormal gait biomechanics during walking.

Describe how using foot orthoses for redirection of Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) influences the kinetic chain during gait and functional activities.

Compare and contrast various orthotic components, posting strategies and covering options as they relate to foot types, patient activities and footwear for improving functional efficiency and patient compliance.

Discuss options for integrating laboratory service plans and applicable exercises to include with orthotic interventions as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

INSTRUCTORS

Suzie LeFever is a nationally recognized educator in lower extremity function, with a particular interest in the biomechanics of the foot. Suzie holds a B.S. in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training from West Virginia University, and a M.A. in Education from Ball State University. She has contributed chapters on closed chain exercise and cycling biomechanics in two different text books on Physical Therapy. Suzie has been actively involved in sports medicine for eighteen years. She is the owner and principle therapist at San Juan Physical Therapy in Friday Harbor, WA. As an active clinician, she shares the joys and frustrations of delivering patient care in this new century. Suzie is excited about this course and believes this class will help clinicians acquire the hands on skills they need to maximize the effectiveness of their patients' custom orthotics.

Greg Wolfe is the cofounder and President of Biomechanical Services, Inc. in Brea, California. He has been actively helping professionals integrate clinical biomechanics, foot function and orthotic therapy for thirty-six years. His particular interest in how foot and leg dynamics impact human locomotion, throughout the lower half of the body, was developed as a result of unique exposure to clinical research and applied principles in biomechanics. This course is setup to address many common questions Greg has fielded over the years. After thousands of orthotic consultations and hundreds of clinical in-services, this course brings it all together.